Thrive ADHD

Pay-what-you-want quality resources for ADHD: thriveADHD.gumroad.com

Founder

Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic & Adult Behavioral Health

Therapist II

Sweater

Founding Member | Investor

California State University, Bakersfield

Clinic Manager

Got ADHD? Pay What You Want for my products. No joke.

My story of ADHD, struggle, and what came next:

Back in 2009, I had no life to be proud of. I had been single after a terrible breakup. High school didn’t prepare me for what came next, and no one wanted to hire me. I always felt different in the way that I think and wanted to do something with it. I then enrolled in college and failed most of my courses. I was crushed.

Most people told me “just try harder” and I’ll get what I want. But this wasn’t so easy with a brain like mine. I told myself to keep doing what I knew. Which was to hang out with the same crowd, doing the same stuff, and having the same outcome. It was comfortable and I was good at it. But something had to give because I wasn’t happy anymore, and completely lost.

That’s when a close friend of mine asked me to go out with her more often. She did things differently. That put me around a different crowd that gave me confidence to volunteer. This led to a job offer which made me more confident to start up college again. Although my mind felt messy, my emotions were getting better.

The problem was that I had no structure, no accountability, zero purpose, barely any support, stuck in my thoughts and felt lost constantly. I had ADHD and didn’t know it. That’s why in 2012 things changed for the better. 

My plan was to start being honest and take myself more seriously as a human. I knew I wanted to help people but I had to help myself first.

The results:

➔ happily married
➔ became a therapist
➔ am a published author 
➔ now getting a doctorate 
➔ building a business publicly

And now I want to share what I’ve learned on this path to those who may have felt like me back in 2009. Just like you, I had to learn what works, what doesn’t, and figure out how to move to the next part while keeping what I’ve built in tact.

Once I made these needed adjustments using research, tools, training, and personal experience, I could finally say that I feel a bit more found rather than lost. After 20+ years of struggle and hard work, I’m proud to say that I feel great in my relationships, confident in academics, and productive in my career.

If this resonates with you, click below for free items:

ADHD library: https://thriveadhd.gumroad.com/
Newsletter: https://biturl.top/uayARf
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@therapyjake
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TherapyJake

The Body Keeps the Score
The Let Them Theory

These books have a few things in common.

Strong trends of public outcry in how unhelpful, unscientific, and wrong they are. Which is understandable.

And public discourse in these books have opened doorways of curiosity for a lot of hurting people. 

I’ve had my back and forths with professionals on this. My current consensus isn’t anything amazing, but tried and true.

I still trust that whatever works for the individual, works. I’ve come to understand there’s too much expertise in a person to question their choices if they think it will benefit their life. I simply can’t knock that.

I also acknowledge not everything is even keeled in these popular books, and perhaps how this information was actually acquired. And before I criticize these publically, I cannot forget what they’ve done for others.

But what are your honest thoughts about these books? Do not take my word for it. I’d rather know yours.

#theletthemtheory #thebodykeepsthescore

Jacob Kountz

Got ADHD? Pay What You Want for my products. (Working on dissertation)

You’re not lazy. You’re overwhelmed.
You’re not lazy. You’re overstimulated.
You’re not lazy. You’re overextended.

You need rest.
You need recharge.
You need to breathe.

How others describe your experience may not fit what’s really going on.

7 things you should do if you have ADHD.

It'll go against what everyone else says.

And trust me, it's doable starting now:

1. Do whatever works for you.
2. Do whatever works for you.
3. Do whatever works for you.
4. Do whatever works for you.
5. Do whatever works for you.
6. Do whatever works for you.
7. Do whatever works for you.

Sometimes, good sound advice comes from yourself. Even if you don't follow it most of the time.

And for the time being, you're probably doing the best you can, and somehow someway, you got here to this moment.

You're doing great.
You're willing to learn.
One step at a time, friend.

#adhd

Thanks LinkedIn,

For sending me emails for jobs at “Top Companies” that best fit my expertise.

I don’t know a lick about software development, but I guess it needs a therapist.

#linkedin #job

ADHD info not a part of the DSM but definitely should be:

- overabundance of attention, not deficit
- sleep circadian rhythm challenges
- sensory processing difficulties 
- rejection sensitive dysphoria 
- neurobiological elements 
- emotion dysregulation 
- gender differences 
- racing thoughts 
- time blindness 
- genetic data
- rumination

All of which comes up as I write my dissertation in 2025.

#adhd

You don’t need to understand how ADHD impacts me in order accept that it’s my reality.

#adhd

A letter to RSD,

I don’t like you. And I know you certainly don’t like me either. And it also feels like others don’t like me because of you. I just don’t like this whole thing at all.

You feel like a visual virus that I can’t unsee or not feel when I want to connect with others. This emotional pain is too much, and I want to be around people because it does get lonely. And I think at the core of it, I honestly feel deep betrayal and shame.

I hide from people. Don’t text them back. Make up stories uncontrollably that never happened or I’m afraid will happen. I’m convinced any step I make to be social will put me in a position of severe rejection. Or worse, I’ll be seen for everything else I can’t stand and criticized for it.

But despite this. Despite you. I will prevail, I think. You may have undermined my every move, my every thought. But I know I’m getting better in regulating you. Better in managing the humiliation. And think you know this too.

How do I know this though? Well, I can talk about it more. I can unveil your atrocity in public because stigma doesn’t have its way with me. I can acknowledge Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria took my power and I’m tired of it, and can and have done something about it. I’m doing it right now.

So until we meet again (probably tomorrow), I will be 1% stronger than you. And the best part is that you’re replaceable. I can certainly practice replacing your ways with self-compassion. Because I know I’m worthy of it.

Yours truly,

A therapist with ADHD

#rsd #adhd #therapist

Five types of distraction with ADHD:

1. very random thought detours
2. trapped in a loop and can’t leave
3. convinced ‘I’ll change tomorrow’ idea
4. cannot remember how you got here at all
5. (comment what’s missing)

#adhd

I think it’s unethical for therapists to say:

“You will be healed”
“You will change”

My code of ethics taught me to recognize that advertising is a part of informed consent.

That is, to provide as accurate information as possible for your services.

Accuracy is not synonymous with lofty outcomes because there are too many variables involved to promise this. This is misleading.

That doesn’t mean you can’t try to educate others about data, research, and help others garner hope.

It does mean you need to be cautious with your language, and not undermine the people you say you wish to serve. 

#therapy

I never thought that by 34 l'd already:

- resolve my ADHD
- learn to live with it I guess...

And I was absolutely right, about one of them.

#adhd

young therapist me: “grief has closure”

me therapist now: “grief can be lifelong”

#grief

ADHD non-support: “You need to focus better.”

ADHD support: “Let me understand you better.”

#adhd

ADHD feels like your brain is finally warmed up, but now it’s bedtime.

#adhd

ADHD feels like driving a race car in a traffic jam.

#adhd

As a therapist, anytime I feel disconnected treating others in therapy, I picture a tuning fork, and ask myself:

“Am I attuned to this moment?”

Often, my vibrations are faster or slower than my clients. Meaning, I’m in my head or somewhere else.

And being in the presence and attuned will be more meaningful for the client and our relationship.

Noticing this each time helps me realign. And viola! Reconnection again.

Be the fork.

#therapy

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ADHD feels like having a full hour of discipline and the rest is, you know…

#adhd

ADHD is hating clutter yet a good reminder in what to work on next.

#adhd

ADHD feels like it’s impossible to do things, then shame forces you to take some action. Feels like a lose-lose.

#adhd

Uhm, are you ok?

You just said "adults don't get ADHD" with a straight face.

#adhd

ADHD feels like one big riddle that you don’t know how to solve. Also, you made up the riddle.

#adhd

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